The Polyphonic Spree Returns to the Road with Yes, It's True

Wildly psychedelic, stylishly dressed, always uplifting in spirit (so much that some considered them just another wayward Texas cult), The Polyphonic Spree has kept a relatively low profile lately. The band has been holed up in leader Tim DeLaughter's home studio jamming the night away -- but the pop-psych veterans also simply have been trying to figure out how to viably survive.

Since The Fragile Army was released six years ago, DeLaughter formed another band, Preteen Zenith, had another child, released a Christmas album with the Spree, and begged for money to keep going -- that is, turned to Kickstarter to finance the recently released Yes, It's True.

"There were just different things happening, and it just prolonged us from releasing a record," DeLaughter says by phone from Salt Lake City.

"There was no pressure to go out there and make a record because we're on our own label -- which was good. It gave us time to regroup and jam together -- serious nightly all-night jams, just airing it out and reorganizing."

The long break also gave DeLaughter an opportunity to write songs and stockpile them. Having been written over a prolonged period, Yes, It's True has more ebb and flow than previous outings. There are heavy moments where electronica breaks to the surface, while other tracks are more restrained and pared down. The heavenly chorus and psychedelic effects remain, but the variety of styles makes this a different Polyphonic Spree.

"The previous records were written almost as concept records. I'd sit down and write a body of work for that particular record, so it would have that same sonic feel throughout. It was a conscious effort. There was a certain initiative to do the record that way," he says.

"What's good about this one is I got to write songs about where I was at that particular place and time and bring them all together. The hardest part is putting that much variety on a record and making it sound cohesive."